Hiya! I’m making the clarification because im not looking for books that necessarily meet the romance structure, but are nonetheless romantic. I don’t care about genders of anyone in the romance.
I want books that have lots of yearning, heartbreak, people being terrible to each other and working through their shit. I really enjoy a book where the love interest is really fleshed out, but also, like, cool. Something where the attraction is more because they’re really cool interesting people, not just that they’re hot.
A cast of characters side characters with their own shit would be great too.
I prefer modern day settings, but i am also a fan of weirdo fantasy, horror, and high concept scifi stuff in modern day settings- this isn’t necessary, but its definitely bonus points, especially if it’s thematically linked with the romance/heartbreak/drama.
Not YA, ideally mid 20s and up, though i’m fine with sections/flashbacks to when they were younger. It doesn’t need a HEA, and if it does, preferably not comfortably and not cozy about it. Something that feels Real.
As for sex scenes, i don’t mind either way, but a lusty yearning is def a bonus – whether it materialises into anything or not.
by Cuttoir
2 Comments
I only just started this book so I don’t know exactly where it goes, but Cowboys are My Weakness by Pam Houston might be a bit off from what your asking but does have all kinds of relationships! It’s a collection of shorter stories of women in different relationships that all seem to connect in some way to each other, or live near each other, etc. You are thrown into the middle of a moment that each women is coming to terms with something in her relationship or hearing the story of how she knew something was going to happen or whatnot. It definitely leans REAL, even though it isn’t one cohesive story.
This is just what is fresh on my mind!
Okay sooo you might be more into love stories instead of genre romance if you don’t require an HEA.
In genre romance one of the rules is a guaranteed happily ever after.
In general fiction, love stories don’t need to end happily – think The Notebook by Nicolas Sparks. (I use this as an example because it feels ubiquitous with the movie’s popularity).
I can’t think of anything rn – probably because I’ve only been reading fantasy or genre romance lately but I’ll try and come back with suggestions.